vintage mod, first time modder

[samthebanker]

so i have an idea of modding a vintage computer that has a the monitor and keyboard all attatched to one case. i want to take the CRT monitor out and replace it with an LCD and run it as a dual monitor system with a large LCD.

also, i will keep the floppy drive bays and use them as a facade for optical drives. my only problem is what to do with the keyboard part. i dont want to keep it as a functional keyboard, but at the same time, i have no idea what to do with it.

im sure others have done similar mods, but this is my first one so orginality is not an issue for me. success is.

[DaveW]

Look up Project Sirrius. There's been a lot of mods done like this. These are also known as sleeper mods.

Good luck!

-Dave

[chedabob]

i know you said you didnt want to keep the keyboard, but if you whacked one of those optimus keyboards in, it would be the shiznit.

[gaz_the_chav]

With project sirrius at the start I really wanted to mount a new keyboard in the old case but it really was not working! I broke about 3 keyboards trying to get it right and it still did not work!

Mind you go fo it! You have nothing to lose. I agree with chedabob it really would look like the shiznit. Hmmmmmmm I think I am now going to have to try and get a keyboard done!

-gaz

[samthebanker]

i think i will keep the keyboard facade in and make it hinged so it lifts to reveal a USB hub for my cell phone, ipod, bluetooth ear piece, and digital camera.

[samthebanker]

btw, anybody know any online sites where i can buy vintage computers? i found oldcomputers.com but they dont sell anything.

[DaveW]

You'll be best looking on ebay....

...but we also have a secret source. a lot of folks just thrown all these old computers away. Everyone on this site picked theirs out a bin somewhere, or had them given to them by folks who were about to chuck em'.

Look around, see what you can dig up.

-Dave

[ajmilton]

another place to look (depending on how old you're looking for) is stuff like Goodwill or other charity-style secondhand stores
i hit one up this weekend looking for a case for the htpc idea i have floating around. didn't find something that i wanted, but i did pick up a nice 16" viewsonic for 17 bucks.
they had a bunch of early-mid 90's style cases on the cheap. i guess it really depends on what you consider vintage :p

[Tech-Daddy]

I have one of these that I'm planning on a mod as well!

Panasonic Sr. Partner. Has an integrated thermal printer in the top, monochrome monitor, 5.25 floppy bay and an MFM hard drive bay... and a TON of steel framing! GAWD... that thing is heavy!

Look forward to seeing what you pull off!

[samthebanker]

looking for something like the commodor pet. i really like the idea of working with a case that has the monitor, case, and keyboard all in one big shell. i have a lot of other ideas, but im no where near good enough with scratch building anything like that.